Article March 11, 1944 Issue

Good Neighbors

LUCILE ROOD KELLEY

The good neighbor policy, indicating a better relationship, socially and economically, between neighboring nations, is steadily gaining ground and proving its worth.

More than two thousand years ago the true good neighbor policy was established by our great Master. Christ Jesus, who said. "Thou shalt love...thy neighbour as thyself." When a certain lawyer asked. "Who is my neighbour?" Jesus related the story of a certain man who "fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead." A priest, "when he saw him.... passed by on the other side." Then a Levite did the same. But a Samaritan not only had compassion on him giving him immediate aid, but also took him to an inn and there paid for his care. "Which now of these three, thinkest thou was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?" the Master queried. Was it not he who saw and understood the man's needs, regardless of his creed or race?

Is it not clear that if we are to establish a good neighbor policy with other nations we must not only believe in them and love them, but spiritually understand why this is possible? We must become aware of their ability to contribute to the welfare of the whole. Mary Baker Eddy writes (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 224): "We should remember that the world is wide; that there are a thousand million different human wills, opinions, ambitions, tastes, and loves; that each person has a different history, constitution, culture, character, from all the rest; that human life is the work, the play, the ceaseless action and reaction upon each other of these different atoms." She adds, "Then, we should go forth into life with the smallest expectations, but with the largest patience; with a keen relish for and appreciation of everything beautiful, great, and good, but with a temper so genial that the friction of the world shall not wear upon our sensibilities." In the spirit of tolerance and impartiality let us become aware of other nations' contribution to the general welfare and welcome their co-operation and support wherever genuinely supplied.

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"Don't take it in!"
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